Natural Remedies To Lower Cortisol

Cortisol plays a key role in determining our sense of well-being. During times of great distress, the adrenal system floods the body with cortisol, providing extra energy to meet the new demands. Lifestyle patterns, illness or genetic tendencies that trigger this emergency response on a regular basis may create an imbalance between the hormones and neurotransmitters of the brain that determine how happy or sad we feel, according to Dr. Archibald Hart, author of “The Anxiety Cure.”

Caffeine

Excessive cortisol in the system may lead to anxiety, panic attacks and other health problems if not addressed, according to Dr. Hart. Elimination of foods and beverages that act as stimulants will assist the body in lowering cortisol. According to a 2002 study by the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University Medical Center and published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, caffeine caused blood pressure elevations and increases in stress reactivity throughout the day and may contribute to an increased risk of coronary heart disease.

Alcohol

Drinking alcohol affects the activities of the adrenal system, which includes the hormone-producing hypothalamic and pituitary glands. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism published a 2008 study by the University College London and the Biological Psychology, Technical University of Dresden in Germany which demonstrated an increase in cortisol levels with the consumption of alcohol in both men and women. Avoiding alcohol will both lower cortisol and protect the delicate balance in the complex body systems.

Laughter

The old saying that laughter is the best medicine also fits into the holistic concepts of natural medicine. Laughing acts as a natural tranquilizer. A 2006 study headed by Dr. Michael Miller, director of the Center of Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center and published in the journal Heart suggests a link between increased blood vessel vasodilatation induced by laughter and a reduction in neuroendocrine hormones like cortisol. Dr. Miller prescribes daily laughter to his patients to promote heart health. Laughing often each day may keep the cortisol at bay.

Herbal Remedies

Eleuthero, schisandra and rhodiola rosea herbs will calm the nervous system and lower cortisol. All three of these herbs are adaptogens, which act to strengthen the body’s resistance to stress. In a 2009 study conducted at SHI Research and Development in Askloster, Sweden, and published in the journal Phytomedicine, all three herbs were shown to trigger the release of certain molecules the body uses to protect itself from damage during times of high-stress demand. As with all herbal products, check with your medical practitioner before adding these herbs to your diet.